Graduate Student Orientation

The following guide has been designed to assist Development Leaders and Graduate Coordinators as they prepare the departmental programming component of the Graduate Student Orientation. The guide is organized by day with each day titled according to its suggested programming theme. Beneath each day's main headings are topics which we believe are vital to new graduate students and assistants to enable them to meet their new assistantship and academic program requirements. Please know that these topics are not intended to represent steadfast solutions. Rather, they are meant to be flexible to meet each department's needs and special interests.  Our aim has been to enhance department-level programming by synthesizing information from past GSO participant evaluations, graduate assistant experiences, and instructional supervisor interviews.  Please remember to include your fee-paying and part-time students in your departmental programming activities.

Please keep in mind that any expenses associated with departmental programming activities are the responsibility of the individual department.

MONDAY,  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Please do not schedule anything before 10:00! DLs will be assisting with Check-In.

WELCOME & PREVIEW

Ice Breakers and Personnel Introductions

• Chairperson and/or Director, Graduate Coordinator, Academic Advisors, Department Secretaries
• Instructional Supervisor, if other than Development Leader
• Returning Graduate Assistants/Research Assistants
• Other…

Overview of the Week's Events 

• Expectations of the GA and students in your department 
• Techniques to fulfill mission
• Practice of the techniques and Review of the week
• Discuss or schedule special testing requirements and when testing will take place
• Other…

Announce Where/How to . . .               

• Where are the good parking locations
• Obtain office keys and locate offices
• Log on to MyBGSU to view paychecks
• Locate computer labs
• Access Student Rec Center, obtain tickets for sporting events
• Locate Stampers for Post Office and duplicating services
• Register for classes

GSO OPENING SESSION   1:30 – 2:30 PM

All Development Leaders and GSO Participants should plan to attend

Location: Kobacker Hall, Moore Musical Arts Building

Special Performance by the BGSU Humanities Troupe:  "5D Diversity"

GSO SESSIONS   2:45 – 5:00 PM

• Recognizing and Responding to Behavioral concerns
• Diversity Discussion Breakout Groups

Tuesday, 7:30 - 8:00 AM

COFFEE AT THE LOBBY – 1st Floor of Olscamp Hall

DL & PARTICIPANTS “COFFEE HOUR” - Optional

• Discuss events of Monday – any questions, comments, concerns
• Cover upcoming activities for the day
• Collect any I-9 documents from students that could not complete the form at Check-in
• Distribute any revised information to departmental programming schedule
• Questions and Answers

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

GSO SESSIONS(Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship and Administrative Assistantship Tracks)

12:15 – 1:30 PM

GRAD BASH hosted by Graduate Student Senate (location pending)

1:45 – 4:30 PM

GSO SESSIONS (Concurrent Sessions: Libraries, Academic Honesty and Campus and Community Fair)

Wednesday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM

DL & PARTICIPANTS “COFFEE HOUR” - Optional

• Discuss events of Tuesday – any questions, comments, concerns
• Cover upcoming activities for the day
• Collect I-9 forms – These need to be completed and turned in no later than Wednesday
• Distribute any revised information to departmental programming schedule
• Questions and Answers

9:00 – 11:30 AM

SUGGESTED TOPICS:

• Library Resources and Services specific to your department
• HSRB or Animal Research if applicable for your academic program
• Academic Honesty
• Preferred Publication/Citation Format for your department
• Statistics and Research

11:30 – 12:45 PM

Lunch Break

1:00 – 5:00 PM

EXPECTATIONS & PLANNING

Outline Rules, Regulations, and Expectations

• Important dates
• Thesis/Dissertation selection and development
• Dress code (if applicable)
• Registration for classes and required coursework for degree completion
• Required office hours each week for GAs
• Department expectations of GAs: hours, ethics, problem resolution
• Other…

Discuss Unwritten Rules and Regulations

• Department teaching philosophy
• TA attitude toward students
• Students' desires, needs and backgrounds
• Classroom demeanor, both of students and TAs
• Times and locations of classes/assignments for TAs

Distribute and Explain Materials

• Texts and lab manuals
• Sample syllabi or lesson plans
• Overview of Departmental packets (folders, handbooks, etc.)
• Department specific library resources
• Department computer resources
• Departmental Student Handbook
• Registration for classes (!!This should be done no later than Wednesday of GSO Week!!)

Logistics for TAs & RAs

• Schedule meetings with GAs and assistantship supervisors
• Explain what to cover on the first few days of classes
• Plan first week of class (at least).  
• Review and discuss syllabi writing
• Assign a working syllabus for Friday
• Distribute prepared syllabi

Miscellaneous but Useful Information

• Where to locate supplies
• Making transparencies and copies
• Using appropriate libraries
• Using labs and lab equipment
• Plan activities for part-time and non-funded students
• Other…

Thursday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM

DL & PARTICIPANTS “COFFEE HOUR” – Optional

• Discuss events of Wednesday – any questions, comments, concerns
• Cover upcoming activities for the day
• Questions and Answers

9:00 – 11:30 AM

SUGGESTED TOPICS:

• Library Resources and Services specific to your department
• Academic Honesty
• Preferred Publication/Citation Format for your department
• Statistics and Research

11:30 – 12:45 PM 

Lunch Break

1:00 – 5:00 PM

TECHNIQUES & PRACTICE

Logistics for TAs & RAs

• Explain what to cover during the first few weeks
• Discuss how to make assignments clear
• Discuss how to lead class discussions
• Discuss how to design effective quizzes, tests
• Show a video of a good teacher in action
• Role playing for skill development in dealing with conflicts in the classroom.
• Other…

Basics

• Presentation of sample lesson by returning TA or faculty member
• Demonstration of lab equipment
• Micro-teaching: Videotaping of new TA/RA presenting a lesson followed by critique (download guide for conducting micro-presentation sessions)
• Other…

Departmental Mixer or Social Activity

Friday, 8:00 – 8:45 AM

DL & PARTICIPANTS “COFFEE HOUR” – Optional

Friday, 9:00 – 10:30 AM

ALL Development Leaders are to attend a debriefing meeting from 9:00 - 10:30 am in 308 BTSU.  We will be discussing the events of the week, checking session attendance for your students, and getting your feedback regarding DL Training meetings and departmental programming. THIS MEETING DOES NOT INCLUDE YOUR STUDENTS.

11:00 AM – ? 

CONCLUSION

Reinforce the Skills

• Schedule weekly meetings with new, and returning GAs and supervising faculty
• Suggest times for new GAs to observe an experienced teacher during first weeks
• Suggest readings that may be beneficial
• Other…

Polish the Product

• Reminder about labs (availability and location)
• Presentation of GA's syllabi
• Presentation of sample lessons by new GAs Role playing of various classroom situations
• Question & Answer periods about anything
• Other…

Diversion

• Social event/mixer - include the spouses and partners of your students
• Other…

PLEASE NOTE: You, your students, and department faculty will need time to make preparations for their own classes and assistantship requirements in order to be ready for the start of classes on Monday. Please do not schedule activities on Friday afternoon unless absolutely necessary. Thank you!